Archive for April, 2015

John Harris visits Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill, once the safest seat in Britain, but now within the SNP’s sights. The veteran Labour MP Tom Clarke says he’s confident he can hold on. But his SNP challenger Phil Boswell says Labour has stopped representing the workers, and fancies his chances. It’s tense, and messy. And when we ask too many questions, anger erupts Continue reading…

Since February, John Harris and John Domokos have been travelling around the country, avoiding the media pack, taking the political temperature … and making a series of videos about this unpredictable, unprecedented election. Where do you think they should go for the penultimate instalment? They want somewhere that might highlight the likely final result, and where it’s all kicking off a bit (but note: they will be in Scotland for a final video around polling day, so England and Wales only, this time). Watch John Harris outline the eight rules of Anywhere but Westminster here and (literally) tell him where to go by emailingguardian.witness@theguardian.comk

Across most of post-industrial Teesside, the Conservatives face a political desert. But a few doughty campaigners are trying to hold the Tory line – and even win a seat from Labour. John Harris goes door-knocking with candidates trying to push a gospel of work, self-help, home ownership and even more welfare reform, to people often cut off from politics. A few seats here could make the difference between victory and defeat – but has David Cameron really got any friends in the North? Continue reading…

The Green party thinks Bristol West could deliver its second seat in parliament – but to achieve that, they will have to reach way beyond their bohemian comfort zone into the city’s more deprived areas. John Harris joins the party faithful as they canvass high-rise estates and aim for working-class and ethnic minority votes, while trying to lay to rest Natalie Bennett’s ‘brain fade’ and sound a loud message of hope Continue reading…

John Harris meets Nick Clegg in the Liberal Democrat leader’s seat of Sheffield Hallam, and witnesses a surreal political battle. Local students are furious at the Lib Dems over their broken promise on tuition fees; Labour claim to be on the march; and Clegg is accused of ducking public debate. One big question hangs over everything: could the deputy prime minister lose his seat? Continue reading…